The investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, which resulted in the deaths of 259 people on board and 19 on the ground in Ahmedabad, has taken a dramatic turn with the release of a preliminary report. The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), indicates that the fuel control switches for both engines were abruptly moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position shortly after takeoff, effectively starving the engines of fuel.
According to the preliminary report, this critical switch movement occurred just 50 seconds into the flight as the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner climbed to 625 feet. Flight data shows that the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from the "RUN" position to the "CUTOFF" position within one second of each other, shortly after the aircraft reached its top recorded speed. This action, normally performed only after landing, caused a loss of engine thrust.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured a perplexing exchange between the pilots in the final moments before the crash. One pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other responded that he did not do so. The report does not clarify who said what. Despite the pilots moving the switches back to the "run" position, the aircraft could not regain enough power to stop its descent due to the low altitude. One of the pilots transmitted "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY".
Aviation experts have expressed disbelief at the circumstances surrounding the crash. Terry Tozer, a former airline pilot, described the engine cutoff switches being switched off so soon after takeoff as "absolutely bizarre". He noted that the engines had insufficient time to recover at such a low altitude.
The AAIB report also referenced a 2018 FAA Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO), which recommended that carriers operating Boeing models, including the 787, inspect the fuel switch locking mechanisms to prevent inadvertent movement. However, this inspection was not mandatory, and Air India reportedly did not carry it out. The report also noted that the aircraft's throttle control module, which houses the fuel switches, had been replaced twice, in 2019 and again in 2023.
Following the release of the preliminary report, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have issued private notifications affirming the safety of fuel cutoff switch locks on Boeing aircraft. The FAA stated that the fuel control switch design does not constitute an "unsafe condition" that would warrant an airworthiness directive. Boeing reiterated this stance in a message to carriers.
Air India has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation. The airline's statement included that they are working closely with regulators and stakeholders and continue to cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. The plane's black boxes were recovered and downloaded in India, and Indian authorities have ordered deeper checks of Air India's entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to prevent future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet.
The investigation is ongoing, with attention focused on the actions of the pilots and the circumstances surrounding the fuel cutoff. The preliminary report has raised many questions, and investigators are working to determine whether the crash was caused by pilot error, mechanical failure, or a combination of factors.
